Analysis vessel enclosing an anchored ring of solid reagent

ABSTRACT

An analysis vessel of the type containing a solid reagent deposit resulting from the dessication of a liquid chemical product. The vessel includes an annular, upwardly open, vertical sidewall having an outwardly flared horizontal lip extending peripherally about its lower end. A skirt extends downwardly around the peripheral edge of the lip and is secured to an underlying, generally horizontal base. The lip and the portions of the base beneath the lip define an annular channel in which the solid reagent deposit is formed as an anchored ring.

Elite States atent Montagnon ANALYSIS VESSEL ENCLOSING AN ANCHORED RING OF SOLID REAGENT [75] Inventor: Paul A. F. Montagnon, Le

Balme-les-Grottes (lsere), France [73] Assignee: Analytab Products Inc., Carle Place,

New York, NY.

[22] Filed: Apr. 27, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 355,088

[30] Foreign. Application Priority Data -May 18, 1972 France 72.18387 {52] US. Cl. 23/253 R, 23/253 TP, 23/259, 23/292 [51] Int. Cl. G0 ln 21/06 [58] Field of Search 23/230, 259, 253, 253 TP, 213/292; 206/47 A; 116/114 AM [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,476,515 1l/l968 Johnson et al 23/253 X 1 Dec. 17, 1974 3,477,821 Harnilton 23/259 X 3,545,934 12/1970 Dryden et al.... 23/259 X 3,582,283 6/1971 Mirasol, Jr. 23/259 X 3,689,224 9/1972 Agnew et a1..." 23/253 TP 3,740,196 6/1973 Stroterhoff. 23/253 TP 3,768,974 10/1973 Storm 23/259 X Primary ExaminerR. E. Serwin Attorney, Agent, or Firml(enyon & Kenyon Reilly Carr 8L Chapin 5 7 ABSTRACT An analysis vessel of the type containing a solid reagent deposit resulting from the dessication of a liquid chemical product. The vessel includes an annular, upwardly open, vertical sidewall having an outwardly flared horizontal lip extending peripherally about its lower end. A skirt extends downwardly around the peripheral edge of the lip and is secured to an underlying, generally horizontal base. The lip and the portions of the base beneath the lip define an annular channel in which the solid reagent deposit is formed as an anchored ring.

6 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures ANALYSIS VESSEL ENCLOSING AN ANCHORED RING OF SOLID REAGENT BACKGROUND or THE INVENTION This invention relates to an analysis device of the type comprising a thin walled cup containing a metered quantity of a chemical product which is formed as a solid deposit at a location in the cup interior.

In performing analyses of chemical or biological materials, it is known to deposit drops of the material being tested in cups, each of which contains a metered quantity of a solid deposit of an indicating reagent. By observation of which reagents undergo a change, an indication of the properties of the material being analyzed can be obtained. The analysis cups themselves,

usually comprise a small vessel made of thin walled plastic material into which a metered quantity of the chemical reagent has been introduced in a liquid state SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an analysis vessel intended to obviate problems of the type previously discussed and, in particular, to provide a construction where detachment of the solid deposit of reagent from the vessel interior is substantially prevented.

In more detail an analysis vessel constructed in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention includes an upwardly open, annular, vertically extending sidewall. An outwardly flared generally horizontal lip extends peripherally about the lower end of the sidewall and is provided along its outer peripheral edge with a downwardly extending annular skirt. A generally horizontal base is secured to the lower end of the skirt. The lip and the portions of the base beneath the lip definean annular channel in which a solid reagent deposit is formed by the dessication of a liquid chemical product. The reagent deposit is thus formed as an anchored ring which cannot become detached from the interior of the analysis vessel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS An analysis vessel constructed in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which,

FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of an analysis vessel according to the preferred embodiment of the invention; and I FIG. Z shows a row of analysis vessels of the type shown in FIG, 1 secured to a common base.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, an analysis vessel constructed in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention is shown.

The vessel includes an upper'body 2 fixedly secured to a flat underlying base 4. The upper body 2 includes an annular sidewall 6 open at its upper end and curved inwardly in an upward direction. At its lower end the sidewall 6 includes a generally horizontahoutwardly directed annular lip 8. An annular skirt 10, depending from the outer peripheral edge of the lip 8 is provided about its lower end with a horizontal rim 12. The rim l2 abuts and is fixedly secured to the previously mentioned base by adhesive, welding or other conventional method. The sidewall 2, lip 8, skirt l0 and rim 12 of the upper body 6 are formed as an integral unit of thin wall material. Preferably a suitable transparent plastic is utilized although glass or other commonly employed materials may be selected.

In the manufacture of the vessel, the upper, end of the sidewall 6 initially includes an integral cap portion 14 (shown in dotted lines) so that the entire upper body is of generally bell shaped configuration and can be formed in a single operation by blow molding, stamping or other conventional manufacturing operation. After the upper body has been secured to the base, the cap portion is cut off by a suitable cutting tool along a line XX adjacent the upper end of the upper body to render the sidewall 6 open at its upper end.

The chemical reagent, in liquidform, is then introduced in a measured quantity through the open upper end of the vessel and tends to be drawn by capillary action into the annular groove or channel defined by the lip 8, the skirt and the adjacent portions of the base 4 underlying the lip. The liquid in the interior of the vessel is then subjected to dessication, for example, by vacuum drying, so that the reagent forms a solid ring of deposit 5 which is trapped in the groove'beneath the lip 4 8. The deposit formed in this manner is effectively anchored in position within the analysis vessel and doe not become detached.

A plurality of analysis vessels (FIG. 2) may be attached to a single, common base 4 so that a row of the analysis vessels may be scanned for ready comparison.

a. introducing a liquid containing the reagent into the vessel in an amount sufficient to cause a quantity of said liquid to enter the channel portion and to be retained therein by capillary action, and

b. dessicating the liquid containing said reagent, whereby the material containing the reagent forms a solid mass which is disposed in the channel portion and thereby becomes anchored in the vessel. 7

2. An analysis vessel for holding fixed therein a quantity of solid material containing areagent, the material having been introduced intothe vessel initially in liquid form, the analysis including observation of the reaction between the substance being analyzed and the reagent when the substance is placed in said vessel, said vessel comprising:

a walled enclosure having sides, a top opening and a bottom and having additionallyan annular portion extending outwardly about the periphery of said enclosure adjacent its bottom, said annular portion forming a tubular channel facing and communicating with the interior of said enclosure, the channel having predetermined horizontal and vertical dimensions which are a minor fraction of the horizontal and vertical dimensions, respectively, of the enclosure, the dimensions of the channel enabling the channel to accumulate the material containing the reagent when placed in liquid form in said enclosure, and upon dessication to form a solid mass which is locked into said channel.

3. The analysis vessel'of claim 2 wherein the sides of the walled enclosure are substantially in the form of a truncated bell-shape with the top opening being adjacent the truncated portion thereof.

4. The vessel of claim 2, further comprising:

said channel having dimensions sufficiently small to cause the liquid material containing the reagent to be drawn into said channel by capillary action.

5. The analysis vessel of claim 2 in which said enclosure further comprises:

a. the sides of the enclosure being an annular vertically extending sidewall,

b. the annular portion including i. an outwardly flared, generally horizontal lip extending peripherally about the lower end portion of said sidewall,

ii. an annular skirt extending downwardly around the outer peripheral edge of said lip; and

c. the bottom including a generally horizontal base portion secured to the lower end of said skirt, the lip, skirt and base portion beneath said lip defining said annular channel portion in which the solid mass of reagent can be deposited in the form of a ring upon dessication of the material containing the reagent.

6. A testing device for analyzing a substance comprising:

a. an analysis vessel including a walled enclosure having sides, a top opening and a bottom and having b. a solid material containing a reagent disposed within the tubular channel, the solid material having been introduced into the vessel initially in liquid form, and upon dessication having been formed into a solid mass locked into the channel. 

1. A METHOD FOR PREPARING A SOLID PORTION OF MATERIAL CONTAINING A REAGENT DISPOSED WITHIN A VESSEL AND ANCHORED THEREIN, SAID VESSEL HAVING SIDEWALLS, A BOTTOM, AND A RELIEVED ANNULAR CHANNEL PORTION ABOUT ITS PERIPHERY NEAR ITS BOTTOM, SAID CHANNEL PORTION BEING DIMENSIONED TO CAUSE LIQUID TO BE DRAWN THEREINTO BY CAPILLARY ACTION, SAID METHOD COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: A. INTRODUCING A LIQUID CONTAINING THE REAGENT INTO THE VESSEL IN AN AMOUNT SUFFICIENT TO CAUSE A QUANTITY OF SAID LIQUID TO ENTER THE CHANNEL PORTION AND TO BE RETAINED THEREIN BY CAPILLARY ACTION, AND B. DESSICATING THE LIQUID CONTAINING SAID REAGENT, WHEREBY THE MATERIAL CONTAINING THE REAGENT FORMS A SOLID MASS WHICH IS DISPOSED IN THE CHANNEL PORTION AND THEREBY BECOMES ANCHORED IN THE VESSEL.
 2. An analysis vessel for holding fixed therein a quantity of solid material containing a reagent, the material having been introduced into the vessel initially in liquid form, the analysis including observation of the reaction between the substance being analyzed and the reagent when the substance is placed in said vessel, said vessel comprising: a walled enclosure having sides, a top opening and a bottom and having additionally an annular portion extending outwardly about the periphery of said enclosure adjacent its bottom, said annular portion forming a tubular channel facing and communicating with the interior of said enclosure, the channel having predetermined horizontal and vertical dimensions which are a minor fraction of the horizontal and vertical dimensions, respectively, of the enclosure, the dimensions of the channel enabling the chaNnel to accumulate the material containing the reagent when placed in liquid form in said enclosure, and upon dessication to form a solid mass which is locked into said channel.
 3. The analysis vessel of claim 2 wherein the sides of the walled enclosure are substantially in the form of a truncated bell-shape with the top opening being adjacent the truncated portion thereof.
 4. The vessel of claim 2, further comprising: said channel having dimensions sufficiently small to cause the liquid material containing the reagent to be drawn into said channel by capillary action.
 5. The analysis vessel of claim 2 in which said enclosure further comprises: a. the sides of the enclosure being an annular vertically extending sidewall, b. the annular portion including i. an outwardly flared, generally horizontal lip extending peripherally about the lower end portion of said sidewall, ii. an annular skirt extending downwardly around the outer peripheral edge of said lip; and c. the bottom including a generally horizontal base portion secured to the lower end of said skirt, the lip, skirt and base portion beneath said lip defining said annular channel portion in which the solid mass of reagent can be deposited in the form of a ring upon dessication of the material containing the reagent.
 6. A testing device for analyzing a substance comprising: a. an analysis vessel including a walled enclosure having sides, a top opening and a bottom and having additionally an annular portion extending outwardly about the periphery of said enclosure adjacent its bottom, said annular portion forming a tubular channel facing and communicating with the interior of said enclosure, the channel having predetermined horizontal and vertical dimensions which are a minor fraction of the horizontal and vertical dimensions, respectively, of the enclosure, the dimensions of the channel enabling the channel to accumulate the material containing the reagent when placed in liquid form in said enclosure, and upon dessication to form a solid mass which is locked into said channel, and b. a solid material containing a reagent disposed within the tubular channel, the solid material having been introduced into the vessel initially in liquid form, and upon dessication having been formed into a solid mass locked into the channel. 